Working Mothers Are Positive Role Models For Their Daughters And Help Them 'Thrive', Proves Study

Daughters of working mothers have better careers, higher pay and more equal relationships than those taised by stay-at-home mothers, a new study has found.

Professors from Harvard University used data from 24 countries to conduct the study, finding that although mothers believe working isn't the best for children, it actually helps all children "thrive", and daughters benefit most.

Kathleen McGinn, lead author of the study, and Harvard Business School Professor, said that the positive effects on daughters was more prominent in the UK and US.

They authors reported: “Our analyses find that sons raised by an employed mother are more involved at home as adults, spending more time caring for family members than men whose mothers stayed home full-time.

“Daughters raised by an employed mother spend less time on housework than women whose mothers stayed home full-time, but maternal employment has no effect on adult daughters’ involvement in caring for family members."

The authors suggested that policies should help mothers into work, whether that is part-time or full-time, to help them get back in to work.

McGinn added: "Whether mums or dads stay at home or are employed, part-time or full-time, children benefit from exposure to role models offering a wide set of alternatives for leading rich and rewarding lives."

Blogging on HuffPost UK Parents, Yasmina Siadatan was keen to prove to women that going back to work was a positive choce for women, and not one you should feel bad about.